Living my childhood dream

What I’ve always loved about astrophysics is how often it captures our imagination when we’re young—when curiosity is insatiable and dreams have no limits. I was 13 years old, sitting in my middle school science class, when I watched Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and realized I wanted to become an astrophysicist in France. I don’t remember exactly how that thought came together, but I remember the feeling with perfect clarity—a kind of joyful certainty, like I had glimpsed a future where two of my deepest passions would challenge me, inspire me, and fuel a lifetime of discovery. Since that moment, every step I’ve taken has aligned with that dream.

As the first in my family to pursue astrophysics, I’ve had to navigate this path largely on my own. In high school, I didn’t have friends or mentors who shared my interests, and with limited STEM resources and minimal college guidance, I often felt lost—and made plenty of mistakes along the way. It wasn’t until college that I truly began to understand the value of a supportive community of like-minded individuals.

That’s part of why I started this blog: to share my journey into academia abroad and offer the kind of encouragement, perspective, and solidarity I once needed—so others don’t have to feel so alone in their pursuit.

Hi, I’m Delaney Adair—a normal girl with a passion for discovery and connection. I earned my B.A. in Astrophysics and French from Franklin & Marshall College in May of 2025, and I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in physics at the University of Strasbourg in France. My liberal arts education gave me the unique opportunity to explore both the sciences and the humanities, shaping a perspective that values not only knowledge, but the human connections it can inspire.

My connection to Strasbourg began during a semester abroad, where I interned at the Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), researching nuclear reaction rates in stellar evolution. That experience deepened my academic interests—and also connected me to a community that made Strasbourg feel like home.

Now, as a France Excellence Graduate Scholar—a full scholarship awarded by the French Embassy—I have both the opportunity and the support to continue this journey.

This blog is where I’ll share that journey: the challenges, the discoveries, and the lessons I’m learning along the way. You’ll find research stories, honest reflections on what I wish I’d done differently, travel snapshots, and a real, unfiltered look at what it means to study abroad in a field that’s still unfolding with mystery and wonder.